Summary: Everyone has their own soulmark. When they encountered their soulmate, the mark in shape of one soulmate's birth flower will bloom. No one anticipated a Soul Reaper as Ichigo's soulmate. Soulmate!AU, Fem!IchigoxByakuya.)
PETALS SHOWER
Little Ichigo regarded the mark imprinted on her right backhand as the most beautiful thing. A pink ranunculus in tiny bud, her soulmark, her soulmate's birth flower. Her jealously guarded treasure, no one knows outside her little family. Masaki helped her deciphered the flower's language.
Every flower language from the soulmark usually told their soulmate's personality.
Hers was a very good one.
"According to this book," Masaki gleefully pointed at certain page. "Your soulmate holds honor and has a good character. A very good one."
"Really?" Ichigo awed at the picture painted on the page.
While not as glamorous as rose, ranunculus has its own attractiveness. Will her soulmate was as wonderful as his or her symbol that Ichigo bear? She couldn't wait for the day they'll meet.
Masaki nodded. "He or she also has a radiant charm to boot with."
"Like Daddy?" Sienna colored eyes flicked a glance at Masaki.
Curiously watched the elegant red camellia crept on her mother's arm and a little on her neck. It was Daddy's birth flower. Isshin on the other hand has white sweet pea's mark. The birth flower of her Mommy, one Ichigo favored the most.
"Like Daddy." Masaki swooped her daughter into a hug, elicited a squeal from Ichigo.
Watched the whole scene, of course Isshin doesn't want to get left behind. Hugged her beautiful wife and cute daughter, he boasted how fortunate he was. Masaki giggled and told him to keep his voice down or he'll wake up the twins. Flustered Ichigo'd rather hide her face on Masaki's shirt.
It only served Isshin's chortle further.
Few days later, Masaki died, leaving Ichigo with her father and twin sisters. Her departure left a deep scar on Ichigo. So she buried herself between taking care family and school. As seasons continuously changed, the memory about her soulmark was slowly forgotten. Locked away down there in her conscience.
Nearly a decade has passed and Ichigo has grown into a stunning 15 years old girl.
The lumbering Fate's gears henceforth picked up its phase bit by bit.
-o-
The encounter with Rukia, the petite Soul Reaper, has turned Ichigo's world upside down.
Understandably, she wasn't all too pleased and avoided Rukia. After few coercions and a certain event, Ichigo reluctantly agreed to became Rukia's substitute. After all, the orange haired girl has been responsible for Rukia's lost power.
So Ichigo did all the other girl's duties, one by one. Friends gained, her spiritual power grew stronger and stronger. Rukia was a pushover and a bit to haughty but a loyal friend she was and Ichigo treasured her. So yes, everything went well so far.
Until Rukia runaway from home.
Left with nothing but a letter Ichigo found few hours later.
"And she told me not to act reckless, the little runt."
Gritted her teeth, Ichigo dashed out to give her a lecture and drag her back.
Fate, unfortunately, was far from done yet.
-o-
She found the ravenette in less than 15 minutes.
Rukia hasn't actually gone too far to Ichigo's great relief.
Someone already got in there first though.
Made it two groups, the first group was none other than heavily injured Uryū. The other one was a pair of Soul Reapers. One of them has a wild red mane in a headband and tatto on his forehead. The last one was...
She noted the twenties-odd year old man has a white haori above the black shihakusho. Few weird-ass hairclips adorned the long black hair. Looking at the brief glance, he actually bore few resemblances with Rukia.
And he has made his movement to grab Rukia.
Ignoring the tingling warmth from her soulmark, Ichigo did what came into her mind first.
She beat the man as her smaller hand grabbed the man's wrist.
"Stop!" Ichigo pulled his hand away from Rukia, shielding the shocked runt.
A simple action. A butterfly effect.
The static ranunculus bud on her backhand went sprung forth. It bloomed across all her visible skin, like there was no tomorrow. Beautiful shade of pink petals dominated over green leaves and slim stems, making everyone including Ichigo gasped at the sight.
Another burst of flower from the unknown man has alerted Ichigo. Vines of white nadeshiko trailed over the widened eyed man's arms and neck. It wasn't just any common nadeshiko to her astonishment. Ichigo immediately recognized it as kawara-nadeshiko.
Her birth flower.
One unique thing about the soulmark was the way they represented. Every soulmark will appear as flower bud tatto. Each flower different, it based on the soulmate's birthday.
Ichigo's birthday was in 15th July. According the Japanese flower calendar, her birth flower will be kawara-nadeshiko. The stoic man wore haori and hairclips possessed the same flower's mark.
Her soulmate was a Soul Reaper.
(Back on Kurosaki clinic, a shudder crawled on Isshin's back for unapparent reason.)
-o-
Ichigo found out his name much later.
Kuchiki Byakuya was his name and Rukia's brother. A member from one of four noble families in Soul Society. He also happened to be Ichigo's soulmate and her to his. It has been concluded, Ichigo's mad adventure (love life) just took the first phase.
Oh boy. This will not end well.
Ichigo could tell it from the phantom headache coming onto her.
-o-
Trivia: Japanese have tanjōka or birth flower or birthday flower. Someone's birthday and their characteristics can be represented by few flowers. I choose only one that has the closest meaning with their characteristics. For the Bleach chara's birth flower and their meanings:
Kurosaki Ichigo: 15th July; kawara-nadeshiko. Meaning: pure love, talent, boldness.
Kuchiki Byakuya: 31st January; ranunculus. Meaning: honor, beautiful personality, radiant charm.
Kurosaki Masaki: 9th June; sweetpea. Meaning: origin, gentle memories.
Kurosaki Isshin: 10th December; red camellia. Meaning: unpretentious grace.
